Systems and methods for braking or launching a ride vehicle

ABSTRACT

Systems and methods for braking or launching a ride vehicle are provided. In one embodiment, a system includes a linear induction motor (LIM) installed in a curved portion of a track, a ride vehicle disposed upon the track, one or more reaction plates coupled to a side of the ride vehicle facing the track via a plurality of actuators, one or more sensors configured to monitor an air gap between the one or more reaction plates and the LIM, and a processor configured to determine which of the plurality of actuators to actuate and a desired performance of each of the plurality of actuators based on data received from the one or more sensors to maintain the air gap at a desired level throughout traversal of the curve by the ride vehicle.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates generally to a motion control mechanismand, more particularly, to systems and methods for braking or launchinga ride vehicle.

This section is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects ofart that may be related to various aspects of the present techniques,which are described and/or claimed below. This discussion is believed tobe helpful in providing the reader with background information tofacilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the presentdisclosure. Accordingly, it should be understood that these statementsare to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art.

There are various applications that utilize mechanisms to accelerate andstop a vehicle carrying passengers. For example, trains, rollercoasters, and the like, may utilize one or more linear induction motors(LIMs) or linear synchronous motors (LSMs) to accelerate a ride vehicleor car along a track and bring the ride vehicle or car to rest at adesired location. LIMs and LSMs are essentially electric motors thathave been unrolled with the rotors lying flat in a linear configuration.LIMs and LSMs produce the force to move a ride vehicle or car byproducing a linear magnetic field to attract or repel conductors ormagnets in the field. LIMs and LSMs typically include a rotor secured tothe track and a stator secured to the moving ride vehicle or car, orvice versa. In LIMs, the rotor may include linear coil windings includedin a ferrite core to which three-phase electric alternating current (AC)power may be supplied. The rotor may be covered by a panel. The statormay include a conductor, such as an aluminum steel panel, also referredto as a reaction plate. On the other hand, in LSMs, the rotor may be oneor more permanent magnets and the stator may be the coil, both of whichmay be covered by separate panels. In either scenario, when AC power issupplied to the coil, a magnetic field may be produced. In LIMs, thereaction plate may generate its own magnetic field when placed in therotor's magnetic field due to induced eddy currents, and the twomagnetic fields may repel or attract, thus causing the vehicle toaccelerate or slow down. Likewise, in LSMs, when the energized coilstator passes by the permanent magnets in the rotor, electricallycontrolled magnetic fields may repel or attract, thereby causing thevehicle to accelerate or slow down.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

Certain embodiments commensurate in scope with the originally claimedsubject matter are summarized below. These embodiments are not intendedto limit the scope of the disclosure, but rather these embodiments areintended only to provide a brief summary of certain disclosedembodiments. Indeed, the present disclosure may encompass a variety offorms that may be similar to or different from the embodiments set forthbelow.

In accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure, a systemincludes a linear induction motor (LIM) installed in a curved portion ofa track, a ride vehicle disposed upon the track, one or more reactionplates coupled to a side of the ride vehicle facing the track via aplurality of actuators, one or more sensors configured to monitor an airgap between the one or more reaction plates and the LIM, and a processorconfigured to determine which of the plurality of actuators to actuateand a desired performance of each of the plurality of actuators based ondata received from the one or more sensors to maintain the air gap at adesired level throughout traversal of the curve by the ride vehicle.

In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, a methodincludes obtaining data related to an amusement ride vehicle disposed ona track and a compound curve portion of the track via one or moresensors, determining at least one selected reaction plate, via aprocessor, of a plurality of reaction plates to actuate based on thedata using a closed-loop system to maintain a sufficient air gap betweenthe plurality of reaction plates and a linear induction motor (LIM)installed in the track, and actuating actuators coupling the at leastone selected reaction plate to a bottom of the ride vehicle asdetermined throughout the compound curve to bend the reaction plates tomaintain the sufficient air gap.

In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, a systemincludes a linear synchronous motor (LSM) including a rotor comprisingalternating pole permanent magnets installed on vertebrae panelsarticulated by a flexible substrate. The rotor is installed on two sidesof a compound curve portion of a roller coaster track, and a stator mayinclude linear coil windings secured to the bottom of a ride vehicledisposed on the track. The ride vehicle includes a power source and aprocessor configured to determine how much power to supply to the linearcoil windings and when to supply the power to maintain sufficient airgaps between the stator and the rotor vertebrae panels and to cause thepower source to supply the power as determined throughout the compoundcurve.

DRAWINGS

These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the presentdisclosure will become better understood when the following detaileddescription is read with reference to the accompanying drawings in whichlike characters represent like parts throughout the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic perspective view of a linear inductionmotor (LIM) including reaction plates with actuators attached to a ridevehicle that is utilized in a compound curve portion of a rollercoaster, in accordance with an embodiment;

FIG. 2A illustrates the reaction plate including actuators from FIG. 1,and FIG. 2B is a side view of the reaction plate, in accordance with anembodiment;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of ride vehicle circuitry, in accordance withan embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram of a process suitable for maintaining an airgap in a LIM by utilizing actuators secured to reaction plates, inaccordance with an embodiment;

FIG. 5 illustrates running bearings secured to reaction plates of a ridevehicle to maintain an air gap between the reaction plates and aninduction motor in a track through a compound curve, in accordance withan embodiment;

FIG. 6 illustrates hydraulic fluid disposed between reaction platessecured to a ride vehicle and an induction motor in a track to maintaina gap in a compound curve, in accordance with an embodiment;

FIG. 7A illustrates a single sided LIM, and FIG. 7B illustrates a doublesided LIM, in accordance with an embodiment;

FIG. 8 illustrates a linear synchronous motor (LSM) with permanentmagnets installed on rotor panels and a linear coil stator to maintainan air gap through a compound curve, in accordance with an embodiment;and

FIG. 9 is a flow diagram of a process suitable for maintaining an airgap in a LSM by supplying power to windings of linear coils, inaccordance with an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Mechanisms that are used for launching and braking ride vehicles or carsare often utilized in ground transportation systems, such as trains, andin amusement park rides, such as roller coasters. The mechanisms mayinclude linear induction motors (LIMs) and/or linear synchronous motors(LSMs). LIMs and LSMs may include two elements, a stator and a rotor,that are spaced apart by an air gap. It is desirable to keep the air gaptight (e.g., within a certain threshold distance) to generate a thrustvector and to increase the efficiency of the mechanisms. Generally,applications that utilize LIMs or LSMs arrange the rotors in straightlines or shallow curves on the track. This is often due to a keycomponent in creating an efficient LIM or LSM, which is maintaining theair gap between the stator and the rotor. It is now recognized that, asthe curves of the track become more compound, maintaining the air gapbecomes more difficult.

As noted above, the LIMs and LSMs utilized in these applicationsgenerally install the rotor in a straight or shallow curve portion of atrack. As such, in LIMs, the stator may include panels (e.g., aluminumpanels), referred to as reaction plates herein, which are generallybroken up into flat articulated segmented panels so that they mayinteract with the opposing element and maintain the air gap during thestraight or shallow curve portion of the tracks to launch or stop theride vehicle or car. The air gap between the stator and the rotor isdirectly proportional to the efficiency of the LIM or LSM. Thus, if theair gap is not maintained, electric slip may occur that affects theefficiency of the LIM or LSM. In turn, the LIM or LSM may use moreenergy than is necessary to propel or slow down the vehicle. However,managing the air gap may be difficult for a number of reasons includingthe inaccuracies of the track, the softness of the wheels, and thestrength of the magnetic attraction or repulsion between the stator andthe rotor, among others.

These difficulties may be magnified in a compound curve portion of atrack, such as a corkscrew, where the stator and rotor are forced tofollow a radius that is ascending, descending, or continuous. Inaddition to the difficulties above, the ride vehicle or car may bepitching and rolling throughout a compound curve, and that may increasethe difficulty of maintaining a near constant (e.g., below a threshold)air gap. As a result, these mechanisms are not typically utilized incompound curves. Nevertheless, it is now recognized that there exists aneed for improved motion control (e.g., braking or launching)mechanisms, especially ones that may be utilized in compound curveportions of a track.

Thus, the presently disclosed embodiments are directed to systems andmethods for a motion control mechanism to manage the air gap between therotor and the reaction plates. In particular, the disclosed techniquesmay be of particular advantage because they may overcome thedifficulties listed above in managing the air gap in compound curveportions of tracks. Accordingly, present embodiments enable a ridevehicle or car to be further accelerated or slowed during these trackportions efficiently instead of relying on momentum alone to traversethe compound curve.

There are numerous embodiments that may achieve these results inaccordance with the present disclosure. In one embodiment, actuators maybe attached to the four corners of articulated reaction plates securedto the stator on the ride vehicle or car, and the actuators may morph orbend the articulated reaction plates continuously to match the shape ofthe rotor panels on the track as the ride vehicle or car pitches androlls through the compound curve helix, thereby maintaining the air gap.In another embodiment, a physical bearing may be placed between therotor and stator that establishes an air gap and keeps the gap nearlyconstant as the ride vehicle or car pitches and rolls throughout thecompound curve. In another embodiment, hydraulic fluid may be injectedbetween the rotor panels and the stator's reaction plates to provide ahydrodynamic bearing to manage the gap between the two elements. In yetanother embodiment, alternating pole permanent magnets may be secured toindividual vertebrae of an articulated spine of the rotor and the statormay include the coil windings. A flexible substrate may be locatedbetween the vertebrae to allow the spine to bend around the compoundcurvature of the track to enable the air gap to be maintained.

FIG. 1 illustrates a LIM including reaction plates 10 with actuators 12attached to a ride vehicle 14 that is utilized in a compound curve 16portion of a roller coaster track 17. As depicted in the embodiment, thestator of the LIM may include the reaction plates 10 secured to thebottom of the ride vehicle 14, and the rotor of the LIM may include thelinear induction coils 18 embedded in the track 17 of the rollercoaster. More specifically, the linear coils 18 may be placed in slotsof a ferrite core installed throughout one or more portions of the track17, such as the compound curve 16. The reaction plates 10 may besegmented and articulated aluminum panels or any conductive material.Articulated reaction plates 10 may refer to two or more reaction plates10 joined by a flexible joint. This may enable the reaction plates 10 toflex and follow the rotor around the helix of the compound curve. Also,the reaction plates 10 may be the same length as the rotor (e.g., linearcoil) panels to maintain the magnetic field generated by the linearcoil, thereby maintaining the efficiency of the LIM. That is, a reactionplate that is the same size as the linear coil rotor may be capable ofproducing eddy currents proportional to the magnetic field generated bythe linear coil rotor so efficiency may be maintained. Thus, if thelinear coils 18 of the rotor are one meter long, the reaction plates 10may each be one meter long, and so forth.

Since the stator reaction plates 10 are secured to the ride vehicle 14,the reaction plates 10 move continuously with the ride vehicle 14 as ittraverses a compound curve 16 in the track 17. Further, as is typicalwith amusement park rides, one or more ride vehicles 14 may be attachedto each other to form a train ride vehicle. Therefore, each ride vehicle14 of the train ride vehicle may be rolled throughout the compound curve16 at slightly different angles. As such, the reaction plates 10 on eachof the ride vehicles 14 in the train may experience a different pitchand roll because the ride vehicles 14 are traveling through a helix orcircle in the compound curve 16. In order to maintain the air gap asclose as possible between the rotor and the stator of the LIM of eachride vehicle 14 throughout the ascending, descending, or continuousradius of the compound curve 16, it may be beneficial to curve thestator and/or the rotor to be nearly the same arc. Thus, the actuators12, which may be secured to each of the four corners of each reactionplate 10 and the ride vehicle 14, may enable modifying the shape of therespective reaction plate 10 to a desired arc at different parts of thecompound curve 16, thereby maintaining an air gap with a near constantdistance. For example, the average air gap across a one meter LIM (e.g.,rotor and stator) may be one centimeter, where the air gap is twomillimeters at an apex and seven to eleven millimeters at outsideboundaries. Thus, in some embodiments, it is desirable to maintain theair gap at an average distance or within a range based on the length ofthe stator and rotor of the LIM. Achieving a near constant or consistentair gap throughout the compound curve 16 may enable the LIM to generatea consistent thrust cross vector that utilizes energy efficiently.

A more detailed illustration of a reaction plate 10 is depicted in FIG.2A. In the depicted embodiment, the reaction plate 10 includes anactuator 12 secured to each one of the plate's four corners. As shown,the linear coil rotor 18 is grounded in the track 17. The actuators 12may be hydraulic, electric, pneumatic, or the like. The actuators 12 mayfunction to bend the reaction plate 10 to the proper geometric shapearound the helix in order to match the arc of the rotor's linear coilpanels so that a near constant air gap 19 may be maintained. In someembodiments, if the actuators 12 are electric, the ride vehicle 14 mayinclude a power source to supply power to the electric actuators 12. Theactuators 12 may be configured to operate in conjunction to dynamicallybend the reaction plate 10 in numerous directions. As will be discussedbelow, the actuators 12 may receive commands from one or more processorsexecuting processor-executable code stored on one or more memories toactuate at certain times and in desired ways. Further, one or moresensors, such as proximity sensors, may be utilized to obtain datarelated to the position of the ride vehicle 14 and the track 17 and sendthe data to the one or more processors. The processors may utilize thesensor data in a closed loop system to perform mathematical calculationsto determine which actuators 12 to actuate and how they should performto maintain the air gap 19.

To aid the discussion, a set of axes will be referenced. For example, alatitudinal axis 20 may run from the front to the rear of the reactionplate 10, and a longitudinal axis 22 may run from side to side of thereaction plate 10. As the ride vehicle 14 travels through the compoundcurve 16, the reaction plate 10 may experience heave, pitch, and rollfrom the helix of the track 17 that may cause distance between thereaction plate 10 and the linear coil rotor 18. Thus, to adjust to theroll, the actuators 12 may be configured to actuate and bend thereaction plate 10 around the latitudinal axis 20, as shown by arrow 24.To adjust to the pitch, the actuators 12 may be configured to actuateand bend the reaction plate 10 around the longitudinal axis 22, as shownby arrow 26. To adjust to the heave, the actuators 12 may be configuredto extend or retract in a vertical direction, as shown by arrow 28. Inthis way, the actuators 12 may bend and/or move the reaction plate 10 tofollow the linear coil rotor 18 panels throughout the helix of thecompound curve 16 to maintain a near constant air gap 19 as the ridevehicle 14 pitches, rolls, and heaves.

It should be noted that the reaction plate 10 may be sized appropriatelyand made of one or more suitable materials so that it may be flexibleand allow the actuators 12 to bend it as desired. For example, in anembodiment, the reaction plate 10 may be approximately one eighth of aninch thick, one meter long, and one half of a meter wide. Also, aspreviously mentioned, the reaction plate 10 may include an aluminumpanel, which may increase its flexibility. To further illustrate, FIG.2B depicts a side view of the reaction plate 10. In the depictedembodiment, the top 30 of the reaction plate 10 may be made of a ferritematerial (e.g., iron) and the bottom 32 of the reaction plate 10 may bemade of a non-ferrite material (e.g., aluminum). The non-ferritematerial may be conductive so that when the material passes through themagnetic field generated by the linear coil, the non-ferrite materialmay induce eddy currents (shown in FIG. 2A as currents 34), therebycreating its own opposing magnetic field that reacts with the linearcoil's magnetic field to accelerate or decelerate the ride vehicle 14.The top 30, which may also be referred to as a backing plate, mayinhibit the eddy currents from being lost and, therefore, energy beinglost, by utilizing the ferrite material (e.g., iron). Because a backingplate 30 is utilized, this embodiment represents a single sided LIM;however, as discussed in detail below, in some embodiments the backingplate may not be utilized and the LIM may be double sided (e.g., includecoils on both sides of the reaction plate).

The ride vehicle 14 may include ride vehicle circuitry 40 to control theactuators as described above. Accordingly, FIG. 3 is a block diagram ofride vehicle circuitry 40. The ride vehicle circuitry 40 may include acommunication component 42, a processor 44, a sensor 46, a memory 48,and a power source 50. The communication component 42 may includecircuitry for enabling wireless communication with the ride vehicle 14as it travels around a track 17. As such, the communication component 42may include a wireless card. The processor 44, which may be one or moreprocessors, may include any suitable processor or microprocessor capableof executing processor-executable code. The sensor 46, which mayrepresent one or more sensors, may include a proximity sensor configuredto acquire positional information of the ride vehicle 14 (or portionsthereof) in relation to the linear coil rotor panels installed in atrack 17 and send the data to the processor 44. In some embodiments, thesensor 46 may include an optic system that tracks information related tothe ride vehicle 14 and/or the track 17.

As an example, the processor 44 may run a closed-loop feedback systemwith the data obtained from the sensor 46 and determine which actuatorsto actuate and how they should perform based on where the ride vehicle14 is located on the track 17. The processor 44 may determine that someactuators should extend or retract to dynamically bend the respectivereaction plate in the proper geometric shape to maintain a certain airgap distance as the ride vehicle 14 pitches, rolls, and/or heavesthrough a compound curve. The sensor 46 may continuously obtain and passdata to the processor 44, which may continuously perform calculationsand issue instructions to control the actuators as desired. In anotherembodiment, the communication component 42 may receive commandinstructions from a control system located externally from the ridevehicle 14, such as in a command center for the ride, and the processor44 may be configured to execute the received instructions.

The memory 48, which may represent one or more memory components, may beany suitable articles of manufacture that can serve as media to storeprocessor-executable code, data, or the like. These articles ofmanufacture may represent tangible, non-transitory computer-readablemedia (e.g., any suitable form of tangible memory or storage) that maystore the processor-executable code used by the processor 44 to performthe presently disclosed techniques. The memory 48 may also be used tostore the vehicle information obtained by the sensor 46, the commandinstructions received by the communication component 42, or the like.The power source 50 may include any suitable power source, including,but not limited to, a battery, a solar panel, an electrical generator,or any combination thereof. The power source 50 may supply power to theactuators.

A flow diagram of a process 52 suitable for maintaining an air gap in aLIM throughout a compound curve by utilizing actuators secured toreaction plates and a ride vehicle 14 is shown in FIG. 4. The process 52may include obtaining data related to the ride vehicle 14 and thecompound curve (process block 54), determining which actuators toactuate and the performance of the actuators based on the data using aclosed loop system (process block 56), and actuating the actuators asdetermined throughout traversal of the compound curve (process block 58)by the ride vehicle 14. The process 52 may be implemented asprocessor-executable code stored on one or more non-transitory,computer-readable mediums (e.g., memory 48). More specifically,regarding process block 54, the sensor 46 included in the ride vehiclecircuitry 40 may obtain positional data of the ride vehicle 14 inrelation to the track 17. For example, one or more sensors 46 may detecthow far the gap is between each reaction plate and the linear coil rotorpanel installed in the track 17. Also, the sensors 46 may detect theangle of the linear coil rotor panels' arcs throughout the compoundcurve. The sensors 46 may send this data to the processor 44.

The processor 44 may utilize the obtained sensor data to determine whichactuators to actuate for each reaction plate, the actuation time, andthe performance (e.g., extend, retract) of the selected actuators usinga closed loop system (process block 56). A control loop system may referto a control system that automatically changes the output commands basedon the difference between the feedback data and the input data. Theinput data in one embodiment may include data related to the air gapbetween the reaction plates and the linear coil rotor panels beforeactuation. As the ride vehicle 14 traverses the compound curve, thesensors 46 may monitor and provide feedback regarding the distance ofthe air gap between the reaction plate and the linear coil rotor panelsafter the actuation occurs to the processor 44 so that the processor 44may make adjustments for subsequent actuators at that portion of thecompound curve, if needed. For example, if the air gap is smaller thandesired after actuation, the processor 44 may provide commands to theactuators of subsequent reaction plates to not extend as far in order toincrease the air gap at that portion of the compound curve. After theactuators have been selected and their respective performancedetermined, the processor 44 may actuate the actuators accordingly(process block 58) in an ongoing and continuously updated procedure. Inthis way, the processor 44 may dynamically control how the reactionplates bend and/or move to follow the linear coil rotor panels andmaintain a near constant air gap by utilizing the actuators.

Another embodiment of a system 60 to maintain a near constant air gapbetween a rotor and a stator of a LIM throughout a compound curve of aroller coaster is illustrated in FIG. 5. This embodiment includesutilizing running bearings 62 and a running surface 64. For purposes ofdiscussion, a set of axes will be referenced. The axes include alatitudinal axis 20 that extends from the front to the rear of areaction plate 66 and a longitudinal axis 22 that extends from side toside of the reaction plate 66. The reaction plate 66 depicted may besecured to the bottom of a ride vehicle 14. Indeed, there may be aplurality of segmented reaction plates 66 secured to the bottom of theride vehicle 14 and they may be articulated in coordination to formcertain overall shapes. Also, the reaction plate 66 may be aluminum andthe same length as the linear coil rotor 68 (e.g., induction motor) thatis secured to a track 17 so that the reaction plate 66 may efficientlygenerate eddy currents to oppose the magnetic field generated by thelinear coil rotor 68. Further, the reaction plates 66 may be sizedappropriately to be flexible in order to bend according to the pitch androll of the compound curve's helix.

In this embodiment, the linear coil rotor 68 may be substantiallycovered by the running surface 64. The running surface 64 may be plasticto enable an object in contact with the running surface 64 to slide orroll. Likewise, running bearings 62 are secured to the bottom of thereaction plate 66 on both of its sides. The running bearings 62 may bestrips that are several inches wide and several inches thick. The exactthickness of the running bearing 62 may be designed to provide an airgap 70 between the stator (e.g. reaction plate 66) and the linear coilrotor 68 so that the LIM may produce an efficient thrust cross vector.In addition, the running bearings 62 may be in contact with and slideacross the running surface 64 throughout the compound curve, therebymaintaining the air gap 70.

However, the compound curve may cause the ride vehicle 14 to pitch androll, so the running bearings 62 and the running surface 64 may beconfigured to comply with the pitch and roll of the helix. As such, therunning bearings 62 and the running surface 64 may be bent around thelatitudinal axis 20, as shown by arrow 24, throughout the compoundcurve. Additionally, the running bearings 62 and the running surface 64may be bent around the longitudinal axis 22, as shown by arrow 26,throughout the compound curve. Although the attractive force of thelinear coil and the reaction plate 66 may be strong at points throughoutthe compound curve, the running bearings 62 may inhibit the reactionplates 66 from clasping together with the linear coil rotor 68.

In some embodiments, one or more trailing arms or other spherical jointmechanism may be attached to the segmented reaction plates 66 of thestator and/or the running surface 64 of the linear coil rotor 68 toapply thrust to gimbal as required to match the pitching and rolling ofthe ride vehicle 14 or car throughout the compound curve. The trailingarms may push the reaction plates 66 that include the running bearings62 against the rotor's running surface 64. The trailing arms may beaided by the magnetic force, which may pull the reaction plates 66against the rotor's running surface 64 and cause the reaction plates 66and the running bearings 62 to bend accordingly. Thus, the reactionplates 66 and the linear coil rotor 68 may be kept relatively parallel,thereby maintaining the near constant air gap 70.

Further, an embodiment of a system 71 to maintain a near constant gapbetween a stator, which includes one or more reaction plates 72, and arotor, which includes one or more linear coils 74, of a LIM throughout acompound curve of a roller coaster track 17 by utilizing hydraulic fluidis illustrated in FIG. 6. For purposes of discussion, a set of axes willbe referenced. The axes include a latitudinal axis 20 that extends fromthe front to the rear of the reaction plate 72 and a longitudinal axis22 that extends from side to side of the reaction plate 72. The reactionplate 72 depicted may be secured to the bottom of a ride vehicle 14.Indeed, there may be a plurality of segmented reaction plates 72 securedto the bottom of the ride vehicle 14 and they may be articulated. Also,the reaction plate 72 may be aluminum and the same length as the linearcoil rotor 74 (e.g., induction motor) that is secured to a track 17 sothat the reaction plate 72 may efficiently generate eddy currents tooppose the magnetic field generated by the linear coil rotor 74. Inaddition, the reaction plates 72 may be sized appropriately to beflexible in order to bend according to the pitch and roll of thecompound curve's helix.

In this embodiment, the system 71 may inject hydraulic fluid 76 inbetween the reaction plates 72 and the linear coil rotor 74 to maintainthe gap. The hydraulic fluid 76 may be injected by one or more sprayersinstalled in the track 17 and/or the ride vehicle 14. The system 71 mayinclude seals 78 that retain the hydraulic fluid 76 after it is sprayedin between the reaction plates 72 and the linear coil rotor 74. Also,the track 17 may include altered surface geometry 80 (e.g., grooves)that promote fluid flow. The hydraulic fluid 76 may include water thatmay function as a hydrodynamic bearing between the reaction plates 72and the linear coil rotor 74 to prevent the two from contacting eachother. Utilizing the hydraulic fluid 76 may reduce the structuralrequirements of the ride vehicle 14. As the ride vehicle 14 traversesthe helix of the compound curve, the reaction plates 72 may be bentaround the latitudinal axis 20, as shown by arrow 24, and around thelongitudinal axis 22, as shown by arrow 26, to match the pitch and rollof the ride vehicle 14 while the hydraulic fluid 76 is injected toprevent the reaction plates 72 from clasping to the linear coil rotor74. Since the hydraulic fluid 76 may be a non-compressible substance,the gap between the reaction plates 72 and the linear coil rotor 74 maybe maintained, thereby maintaining the efficiency of the LIM.

It should be understood that the LIMs discussed above may be eithersingle sided or double sided, as illustrated in FIGS. 7A and 7B,respectively. The single sided LIM 82 illustrated in FIG. 7A includes astator 84 and a rotor 86. The stator may include a reaction plate with anon-ferrite panel 88 (e.g., aluminum) that faces the rotor 86. Thenon-ferrite panel 88 may be conductive and it may induce eddy currentswhen it is passed through a magnetic field generated by the rotor 86.The reaction plate 84 may further include a backing plate 90 that ismade of a ferrite material, such as iron. The backing plate 90 mayinhibit the eddy currents induced in the non-ferrite material 88 fromdissipating and being lost. The rotor 86 may include linear coils (e.g.,induction motor) placed in between a ferrite core. The linear coils maybe supplied three phase electric power to generate a magnetic field. Thedouble sided LIM 92 depicted in FIG. 7B may include a reaction plate 94made of a conductive material, such as aluminum, sandwiched betweenlinear coils 96 (e.g., induction motors) on both sides of the reactionplate 94. In both the single sided LIM 82 and the double sided LIM 92, anear constant air gap may be maintained by utilizing the techniquesdescribed above.

In yet another embodiment, FIG. 8 illustrates a double sided LSM 100that may utilize permanent magnets 102 installed on rotor panels and alinear coil stator 104 to maintain a near constant air gap through acompound curve of a roller coaster track 17. The permanent magnets mayalternate poles (e.g., north and south), as depicted, and the linearcoil stator 104 may be secured to a ride vehicle 14. The permanentmagnets 102 may be secured to rotor panels 106 of the track 17 on bothsides of the stator 104. The rotor panels 106 may resemble anarticulated spine in that each portion that contains a permanent magnet102 may be a vertebrae and the vertebrae may be separated by a flexiblesubstrate (e.g., a scalloped region) 108 that allows the spine to bendaround a helix's arc of a compound curve. For example, the flexiblesubstrate may include a cable. The gap between the linear coil stator104 and the permanent magnets 102 may be maintained as the ride vehicle14 pitches and rolls through the compound curve by the magneticattraction and repulsion of the magnets to the magnetic field generatedby the linear coil stator 104 on both sides of the stator 104 at thesame time.

In this embodiment, the ride vehicle 14 may include circuitry 40 asdiscussed above for FIG. 3. Specifically, since the linear coil stator104 is attached to the ride vehicle 14, the ride vehicle 14 may includea power source 50 to supply power to the windings of the coil in orderto generate a magnetic field that attracts or repels the magnets 102secured to the rotor panels, thereby bending or moving the rotor panels106 via the flexible substrate as desired to maintain the air gap.Further, the memory 48 may store processor-executable code that theprocessor 44 utilizes to command the power source 50 to provide power atvarious times throughout the compound curve based on positional datareceived from sensor 46. In other embodiments, the communicationcomponent 42 of the ride vehicle circuitry 40 may receive instructionsfrom an external source, such as the amusement ride's command center,that dictate how to provide power to the linear coil stator 104.

FIG. 9 is a flow diagram of a process 110 suitable for maintaining anair gap in a LSM by supplying power to windings of linear coils, inaccordance with an embodiment. The process 110 may include obtainingdata related to the ride vehicle 14 and the compound curve (processblock 112), determining when to supply power to the windings and howmuch power to supply based on the data (process block 114), andsupplying power to the windings of the linear coils as determined(process block 116). The process 110 may be implemented asprocessor-executable code stored on one or more non-transitory,computer-readable mediums.

More specifically, process block 112 may include obtaining data relatedto the ride vehicle 14 and the compound curve by utilizing sensors todetect air gaps between the linear coil stator and the permanent magnetson the rotor panels attached to the track 17. If the air gap is tooclose to one rotor panel, then it is likely that the air gap is toolarge to the other rotor panel. The sensors may send the air gap data tothe processor that may determine how much power to supply to correct thegap differences and when to supply the power (process block 114). Theprocessor may then command the power source to supply the power asdetermined, and the power source may perform accordingly (process block116). As a result, the permanent magnets may be attracted or repelled tothe magnetic field of the linear coil windings to bend or move the rotorpanels via the flexible substrate and the air gap may be changed. Inthis way, the gap between the linear coil stator and the permanentmagnets attached to the rotor panels may be maintained on both sides ofthe LSM.

While only certain features of the present disclosure have beenillustrated and described herein, many modifications and changes willoccur to those skilled in the art. It is, therefore, to be understoodthat the appended claims are intended to cover all such modificationsand changes as fall within the true spirit of the disclosure.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A system, comprising: a linear inductionmotor (LIM) installed in a curved portion of a track; a ride vehicledisposed upon the track; one or more reaction plates coupled to a sideof the ride vehicle facing the track via a plurality of actuators; oneor more sensors configured to monitor an air gap between the one or morereaction plates and the LIM; and a processor configured to determinewhich of the plurality of actuators to actuate and a desired performanceof each of the plurality of actuators based on data received from theone or more sensors to bend the one or more reaction plates to maintainthe air gap at a desired level throughout traversal of the curvedportion of the track by the ride vehicle.
 2. The system of claim 1,wherein the plurality of actuators and the one or more reaction platesare configured to cooperate to bend selected reaction plates to matcharcs of the curved portion of the track based on actuation of selectedactuators as determined by the processor.
 3. The system of claim 1,wherein the processor is configured to utilize a closed loop feedbacksystem to determine the desired performance of each of the plurality ofactuators as the ride vehicle traverses the curved portion of the trackto maintain the air gap at the desired level.
 4. The system of claim 1,wherein the LIM includes linear coil windings disposed in a ferrite coreand covered by a panel.
 5. The system of claim 4, wherein the one ormore reaction plates are the same size as the linear coil windings. 6.The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more reaction plates eachinclude a bottom side made of aluminum that faces the LIM and a topbacking plate made of iron.
 7. The system of claim 1, wherein each ofthe one or more reaction plates includes four corners, wherein oneactuator of the plurality of actuators is disposed in each of the fourcorners.
 8. The system of claim 1, wherein the track comprises two railsand the ride vehicle includes two running bearings secured to the sideof the ride vehicle facing the track, one running bearing aligned witheach rail of the track and running from the front of the reaction plateto the rear of the reaction plate, that contact a running surfacedisposed on top of the track throughout the curved portion of the track.9. The system of claim 1, wherein the curved portion comprises acompound curve and wherein the one or more reaction plates arearticulated, flexible, segmented, or a combination thereof.
 10. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein the LIM is single sided or double sided. 11.A system, comprising: a linear synchronous motor (LSM) including a rotorcomprising alternating pole permanent magnets installed on vertebraepanels articulated by a flexible substrate, wherein the rotor isinstalled on two sides of a compound curve portion of a roller coastertrack, and a stator comprising linear coil windings secured to thebottom of a ride vehicle disposed on the track, the ride vehiclecomprising: a power source; and a processor configured to determine howmuch power to supply to the linear coil windings and when to supply thepower to maintain sufficient air gaps between the stator and the rotorvertebrae panels and to cause the power source to supply the power asdetermined throughout the compound curve.
 12. The system of claim 11,wherein the permanent magnet's attraction and repulsion to the magneticfield generated by the linear coil windings cause the rotor vertebraepanels to bend or move via the flexible substrate to match a pitch and aroll experienced by the ride vehicle throughout the compound curve. 13.The system of claim 11, wherein the ride vehicle comprises one or moreproximity sensors configured to obtain data related to the air gapbetween the rotor and the stator and to send the data to the processor.14. The system of claim 13, wherein the processor is configured todetermine how much power to supply to the linear coil windings and whento supply the power to adjust the air gaps based on the obtained sensordata.
 15. The system of claim 11, wherein the flexible substratecomprises a cable that enables the rotor vertebrae panels to bepositioned in different angles around the compound curve.
 16. A system,comprising: a linear induction motor (LIM) installed in a curved portionof a track; a ride vehicle disposed upon the track; one or more reactionplates coupled to a side of the ride vehicle facing the track via aplurality of actuators; one or more sprayers installed in the track thatinject hydraulic fluid between the one or more reaction plates and theLIM to create a hydrodynamic bearing and wall seals that contact thesides of the ride vehicle as it travels throughout the curved portion toretain the hydraulic fluid; one or more sensors configured to monitor anair gap between the one or more reaction plates and the LIM; and aprocessor configured to determine which of the plurality of actuators toactuate and a desired performance of each of the plurality of actuatorsbased on data received from the one or more sensors to maintain the airgap at a desired level throughout traversal of the curved portion of thetrack by the ride vehicle.